WEDDING Q & A

Ashlee Erlinger, Signed Sealed Delivered Events

Allissa Reimer, Altar’d Events

Kaitlin Hartman, K. Hart Events

OUT WITH THE GARTER TOSS AND RECEIVING LINE.

In with the grandma flower girls, man of honors, bro-maids and groom women.

Many brides are tossing old traditions and welcoming a fresh way of celebrating their big day. Think: color, puff sleeves and vintage furniture

Local wedding planners say it’s a trend they’re seeing more and more: ditching the old traditions. For years, the bouquet tosses and formal cake cutting were expected at any wedding reception, but those old traditions are fading in popularity. So, what’s next in the world of wedding trends? Writer Molly Rose went to the experts to nd out. No worries – she also got the latest scoop on wedding etiquette in 2021 and has local planners talking budgets.

Q: Talk to us about the latest trends you are seeing or what you predict might be the next wedding craze.

AE: “De nitely seeing more color coming back – the last few years have been neutrals, whites and greenery. We’ve seen loads of pampas grass, but we are starting to see vibrant and bold colors coming back in – patterned and textured linens and place settings. Many of our couples this year and next are opting for cozy and welcoming seating areas at their cocktail hours and receptions. Not only do they provide darling photo ops, but they are functional and create a talking point for guests. Of course, shows always play a role in wedding trends. Bridgerton brought back puff sleeves and garden prints. Speaking of dresses, bring on the ruf es and tulle because these show stopping textures are making their way back, and not just in white. We have seen them in pink, green, peach, yellow and black.

AR: “Color is Back: I’m nding more and more couples open to incorporating bold hues into their wedding design and I’m here for it. We love playing with color – whether it’s a few subtle pops to enhance a mainly neutral palette or a fully immersive design that features a myriad of tones. Wedding Weekend Experiences: More and more of our couples are curating a full weekend of activities and experiences to allow multiple opportunities to connect and celebrate with those they love the most. Welcome events – whether fully planned events or simple meetups at a noted

place – are a great way to kick off the wedding weekend and a farewell brunch allows the couple and their families the opportunity to thank everyone, once again, for celebrating with them.

KH: “A trend I can de nitely get behind is during the ceremony, having the bride’s parents and groom’s parents sit on the opposite side so they can see their son or daughter’s face instead of their back. Don’t be afraid to make your special day exactly what you want it to be!”

Q: Where should brides focus their budget? Tips for brides on getting the most from their budget?

AE: “Getting the most from your budget means being realistic and clear about your budget. First things rst, have the conversation with your partner and families. What is everyone comfortable contributing? What are their requests and expectations? Then start that guest list. Once you have those two numbers, you will get a pretty solid starting base to your budget. Then ask yourselves: what are our top priorities? If you are over your budget (don’t worry, most people are), then let those priorities guide you. Is there something, someone you can cut without sacri cing on your priorities? Start there.”

KH: “A wedding planner! Planners can be the best investment to ensure you have a professional on your side to guide you through each step of the planning process and help you avoid mistakes and cover the full expense or contribute toward the cost. To be considerate, couples may choose to inquire regarding what price range is most comfortable for those involved so they may keep that in mind as they make their selections.”

keep you on track. This includes setting and sticking to a realistic budget and getting the most for your money, especially when it comes to selecting the venue and booking your vendors.”

AR: “As a general rule of thumb, the food & beverage expense is generally one of the largest associated with any event and it’s also the expense most affected by guest count. While it’s easiest to advise a reduction in guest count to get the most out of any budget, for some that just isn’t an option. We always advise our couples to consider and list out their priorities. Once we know what’s most important to them, we’re able to allocate their budget accordingly to align with their vision.”

Q: What about etiquette on inviting children to the wedding? Can a bride and groom allow some children and not invite others?

KH: “I believe the couple should always invite or not invite whomever they please! This goes for children, especially - If the couple has a close relationship with one person’s children, but not with another, they are allowed to make that decision based on who they want to share their day with. It opens the oodgates to too many additional guests in the headcount (which in turn increases overall cost of catering, oral, and rentals) if you include everyone’s children. It’s okay to be very speci c with this and make sure the invitations and/ or wedding website clearly re ect your expectations... For example, “Please join us for an adults-only celebration” or “This is a 21+ event” (or 18+, 16+, etc.)”

AR: “It’s easiest to make a hard line; either children are invited or it’s an adults only affair. Doing so saves the couple from any need for exceptions and can make it easier to answer questions relating to the subject and their decision around it. However, we don’t necessarily believe in rules so if a couple chooses to allow some, typically the children in the wedding party, while refraining from others, they certainly can.” Q: What about the C-word? Couples are still navigating the ongoing pandemic. Any advice for couples who have had to shrink their guest count due to COVID-19? What is the proper etiquette for asking guests to be tested for COVID-19?

Q: Any advice for how to navigate wedding party attire. Who pays for what and how is it communicated?

KH: “I always tell brides and grooms to be up front about this from the very beginning. It’s most likely your friends/family have participated in a wedding already and know what to expect to a degree but aligning expectations right off the bat can only help avoid issues down the road. For example, “We plan to cover the cost of [X, Y, Z], if you can plan to pay for your [dress/suit/ shoes, etc.] - Including something like this in your original proposal to ask those to join your wedding party is okay! People tend to forget you are truly asking them a question and if you provide them with all the necessary information, they can make an informed commitment to be a part of your big day!” AE: “Be Present. Enjoy Every Moment. Focus on who is there. It may not look how you originally planned, but it doesn’t make your wedding day, your love story, any less magical.”

KH: “Either on the details card included with the wedding invitations and/or on the wedding website and describing something along these lines... “Due to the continued uncertainty of the COVID–19 Pandemic and the Delta Variant, we are only allowing fully vaccinated guests and guests with a recent negative test to attend our event. If you are not fully vaccinated or unwilling to get tested prior to the wedding, we ask that you respectfully decline our invitation at your earliest convenience. We hope you can understand and respect our wishes for the health & safety of all of our loved ones!” ♥

AR: “It’s typical for wedding party members to be responsible for the expense of the wedding party attire, but we’ve had a few couples